Beckham: Lifting the MLS Cup would be as big as winning the European Cup

David Beckham's focus at the Major League Soccer Cup final press conference in a hotel lobby in Downtown LA kept straying to the back of the room, where his eldest son Brooklyn was joking around with his grandfather Ted.

As he was probed about his legacy and his future, which has still to be decided, the LA Galaxy midfielder's gaze kept drifting back to his 12-year-old son, a keen 'soccer' player himself.

Happy days: Beckham has lived the American dream

It was as a father rather than a former England captain that Beckham delivered what amounted to, for this master of the diplomatic answer, a damning verdict on Sepp Blatter.

He stopped short of saying the FIFA president should resign for his views about racism in football, but Beckham's disgust was obvious in the incredulous tone he adopted.

'I think the comments were appalling,' said Beckham. 'There obviously is - and has been - racism in soccer and life in general. It is still there. It cannot just be swept under the carpet and sorted out with just a handshake.

'I do think, being around the England team and the FA - who do a lot of work with kicking racism out of the game - they have made huge strides in the last 10 to 15 years.

'But racism is out there and we need to work hard to keep it out of the game and life in general.'

Family values: Cruz shares his dad's love of football and haircuts

He sat back in his chair and the bustling room seemed to nod in collective agreement. In the two years since the Galaxy last reached the MLS Cup final, the play-off game that determines the league's champions, the way Beckham is perceived in the United States has changed immeasurably.

The hair has, too, of course, from a
Jedward-style blond quiff to a slick 1940s side parting. But, once
again, Beckham seems to have won them over.

In November 2009, when the Galaxy lost to Real Salt Lake on penalties
in rain-sodden Seattle, Beckham looked mentally and physically drained.
He needed three injections in his right ankle to play that night then
hurtled off to join AC Milan on loan via a trip to South Africa to help
England's ultimately unsuccessful bid for the 2018 World Cup.

Three years into his American dream there was no suggestion of legacy,
only the premature ending of what was threatening to turn into a
nightmare.

But, as
Beckham approaches the end of his five-year, £20million deal, there is
now a genuine feeling of warmth. They see a man who has created a life
in glamorous Beverly Hills for himself, wife Victoria, 37, and their
children Brooklyn, Romeo, nine, Cruz, six, and four-month-old daughter
Harper.

He came and he stayed to see out his contract, just like he said he would. And America appreciates that.

Beckham is a global superstar who hangs out with Tom Cruise, exchanges text messages with basketball legend Kobe Bryant and was recognised by Jack Nicholson outside the 'rest room' at an LA Lakers game.

Final flourish: Becks hopes to end on a winning note

But a little bit of Leytonstone still remains. He may talk about 'soccer', but the London accent is still strong. When he discussed the 'Cup final on Sundee' against Houston Dynamo he could just as well have been referring to a jumpers-for-goalposts game on Hackney Marshes.

Beckham said: 'There have been moments we have sat back as a family and talked about how lucky we are. Every time I drive through Beverly Hills you kind of pinch yourself.

'I was driving the kids to breakfast and I stopped at the "Stop" sign, looked across and Al Pacino was walking across the road with his small kid. That was surreal.

'When I was at the Lakers I was waiting for the rest room and someone was in there. The door opened and Jack Nicholson came out and he said: "It's all yours, David". I was amazed he knew my name.

'I speak to Kobe Bryant quite a bit. He sent quite a few messages after a game about one of my crosses. I do feel like a local now. We've created a great life for the children to live in a place which has the weather like it does. To be swimming in the swimming pool in November - it can't be bad.'

High fives: Beckham has been a big success

Beckham insists the outcome of Sunday's match will have no bearing on his decision about his future. He has made clear his desire to represent Team GB at next summer's Olympics and, at 36, will base his choice on how he 'feels physically'.

The Galaxy are hopeful he will stay, but Paris Saint-Germain remains an appealing option because it could bring the on-field success Beckham still craves incessantly. He could yet take up the option to buy an MLS franchise and there have been offers from other clubs, too, including Mexican side Club Tijuana, which sparked a fit of giggles from Brooklyn at his dad's pronunciation.

But it was May 2007 when Beckham bowed out of Real Madrid with a league title and you get the impression that feeling of lifting a trophy is still clearly his burning motivation.

CLEVER TREVOR

Beckham would become only the second Englishman to win a title in three countries, if LA Galaxy are successful in the early hours of Monday morning. And both of them play on the right wing.

Beckham has won titles for Manchester United and Real Madrid. The other Englishman is Trevor Steven, who won the championship at Everton, Marseille and Rangers.

He has missed training for two days because of a slight hamstring injury but is determined he will be well enough for the final.

He said: 'I hope (people don't think it's about the money). I've been lucky enough to have big clubs in Europe wanting me still which, at my age and stage of my career, is a real honour.

'I am competitive - I'm not going to hide it. Whether I'm playing two versus two with my sons in my back garden, I like to win. But the problem is they like to win as well. It is a tough game in our garden.

'Winning any big competition when you're an athlete is what you set your sights to do. I think you always feel unfulfilled if you don't win a trophy, no matter where I've played.'

Beckham made a joke of only recently starting to understand the play-off system, but it masked a slight irritation that Galaxy's success in the 'regular season', in which they topped the table by four points, could be overlooked should they lose.

Yet he insists the last three years of his American adventure have been a success. 'Playing for European teams, when you win the league you are champions. It is obviously different here. We want the big one. It would rank up there with every other title I've won - whether it's the European Cup final, the FA Cup final or the Premier League.

'The last three years have been successful. Hopefully I've proved that I've been committed to this club and committed to playing the game here.'

The three generations of Beckhams in the room said it all on that score.